Minnesota Lynx vs. Los Angeles Sparks Prediction: Third Clash This Season

The Los Angeles Sparks will try to get back on the right side of the scoreboard tonight when they host the Minnesota Lynx. As the owners of one of the better records in the league (15-6), it was not surprising when the Lynx opened as 7.5-point road favorites against a struggling Sparks team.

However, while it hasn’t been a great year for Los Angeles, they have been at their best at home, where they are 4-6 but have won three of their last four. Conversely, Minnesota has had some issues on the road (5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS).

Let’s review the betting odds for tonight’s game, along with our preview and pick.

Lynx vs. Sparks Betting Odds for Tuesday, July 9

This will be the third game between Minnesota and Los Angeles this season. Each team has hosted a game, with the Lynx as the betting favorite for both games (by 6.5 points on June 5 in Los Angeles and by 12.5 points at home on June 14).

Minnesota went on to win both games, the first relatively easily (86-62), but the second was much more competitive. The Lynx won 81-76, but it was the first game Minnesota won outright, and they failed to cover the spread. Since then, the Lynx have gone 5-3 outright but just 3-5 against the spread.

Here are the betting odds for Lynx vs. Sparks tonight via Caesars Sportsbook. Head over to Caesars to place your bets and claim $1,000 First Bet on Caesars with our promo code WSN1000.

Lynx vs. Sparks Preview

Tonight's game will be the 90th meeting between Minnesota and Los Angeles. The Lynx own the all-time series lead, 48-41. Minnesota has won the last seven games and nine of the last ten. Los Angeles last beat the Lynx during the 2022 season (May 29, 85-83).

But you have to go back to the 2020 season to find the last time the Sparks beat Minnesota in Los Angeles (Sept. 9, 97-81). The final score in the last five meetings (and eight of the last ten) finished under the listed total.

Minnesota Lynx Prediction

Teams get a chance to find out just how strong their roster is when a star player goes out with an injury. The Lynx lost Napheesa Collier to an injury suffered in the loss to the Sun on the Fourth of July. Her injury occurred late in the third as Minnesota saw their slight lead at the half disappear.

At the end of the third, Connecticut led, 64-58, and went on to win by five, 78-73.

Collier is averaging a double-double this year with 20 points per game and 10.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks. Her official status is listed as day-to-day, but according to reports, she is out indefinitely with aggravated plantar fasciitis in her left foot.

Since the injury, Minnesota has played once, vs. the Mystics at home on July 6. It was an up-and-down performance, but the team went on to win 74-67. Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride led the team in scoring with 17 points. Dorka Juhasz dominated the boards with 11 rebounds.

Bet on Minnesota Lynx at Caesars

Los Angeles Sparks Prediction

The Sparks are three games into a four-game homestand. While 1-2 SU and ATS are in those games, they have not played bad basketball. During that stretch (July 2-7), they had the fourth-best offense in the league (85.3 ppg). Defensively, they were on par with the rest of the season.

But if there is a place where they may have a shot at upsetting one of the top teams in the league, it is at home in the friendly confines of crypto.com Arena. Of their ten home games, they have won four. Two of those victories came against relatively weak opponents (Dallas and Washington).

However, two came against the defending champs, the Las Vegas Aces.

The more recent win was on Friday, a 98-93 overtime win. It was the second time this season the offense has generated 90+ points. The other game was against Vegas as well, 96-92 (Sunday, June 9).

There wasn't a common denominator in the wins. The Sparks shot slightly better from the floor in one but dominated rebounds. However, in the recent win, the Aces had a better shooting percentage but the same number of made shots.

However, LA made a few more free throws and two more three-pointers than Vegas.

Bet on LA Sparks at Caesars

Lynx vs. Sparks Pick

• My Pick: Lynx -5.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook; but if this pick makes you nervous, go with the UNDER.

The spread for this game opened at 7.5 points with the Lynx as road favorites, but the line has since dropped to 5.5 points. Collier's official status is GTD (game-time decision), but seeing her back on the court so quickly would be surprising. Even without her, the team is capable of playing solid defense.

Their offense does suffer without Collier, but the Lynx have other talented players on the roster who can pick up the slack against a lackluster Sparks team. LA did outscore the Aces for a win Friday, but Vegas has struggled on defense for much of the season.

Minnesota may not play great defense minus Collier, but it will be good enough.

Bet on Lynx -5.5 (-110) at Caesars

How to Watch Lynx vs. Sparks

• Location: crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

• Game Time & Date: 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 9

• Coverage: WNBA League Pass